A letter recently disclosed by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has effectively cleared the Honourable Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, of allegations bordering on certificate forgery, bringing clarity to a controversy that had attracted intense public scrutiny.
The document, dated December 21, 2023, and signed by the Registrar of the University, Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Ngozi Nnebedum, confirmed that Chief Nnaji was indeed a bona fide graduate of the prestigious institution.
According to the letter, Nnaji was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree, Second Class (Honours) Lower Division. The official record, bearing his registration number 1981/30725, was addressed to Samuel Ogundipe of People’s Gazette, and copied to the Registrar’s Correspondence Unit of the university.
This confirmation directly contradicts earlier reports that claimed the university had no record of Nnaji’s academic history — a claim that had fueled speculations and misinformation regarding the authenticity of his degree.
The emergence of the 2023 letter has now dispelled doubts and restored public confidence in the minister’s academic integrity. Analysts describe the development as a vindication for Chief Nnaji, whose reputation had been called into question by what now appears to be miscommunication or administrative inconsistencies within the university’s registry.
While the University of Nigeria has not issued a fresh public statement addressing the conflicting claims, the authenticity of the December 2023 correspondence, issued on the university’s official letterhead and duly signed by the Registrar, has left no room for ambiguity.
The controversy, which began after certain reports alleged that the minister’s degree certificate was fraudulent, has reignited broader conversations on record management, transparency, and integrity within Nigeria’s educational institutions.
Observers and commentators have urged universities and public agencies to strengthen their internal documentation systems to avoid such damaging discrepancies in the future.
As it stands, the University of Nigeria’s letter has reaffirmed that Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji is a legitimate graduate of the institution — effectively laying to rest the allegations of certificate forgery and vindicating the minister before the court of public opinion.
